To reduce school absenteeism due to menstruation and promote menstrual hygiene, Help Ghana is supporting the Social Innovation and Poverty Relief Initiative (SIPRI) in a new project.
SIPRI reached out to Help Ghana to address the fear and discomfort that junior high school female students face during their menstrual cycle. Often, these young girls are not well-educated on menstrual health and the products they can use to protect themselves from infections and leaks. In response, SIPRI proposed a sensitization program to teach female students how to sew reusable sanitary pads.
Reusable sanitary pads reduce the financial burden on young girls’ families, as they no longer need to purchase new disposable pads every month. This provides a sustainable alternative to distributing costly regular sanitary pads. Moreover, by learning to make reusable pads themselves, female students gain valuable skills for personal use and for passing on to future generations.
SIPRI will execute the sensitization program at the Taviefe E.P. Basic School in the Volta Region, benefitting over 100 female students. Help Ghana is supporting the project by funding the materials and equipment necessary for the sewing workshops. Once the program is completed, SIPRI expects to see significant improvements in menstrual health management, school attendance rates, health education, and the overall comfort and dignity of female students.